This is the remix.

On last week's American Idol, the guest performer and mentor was Jennifer Lopez. When I first heard this, I, as I am sure many other people did went Really? Her? Think about it. Anyone who watches American Idol knows that the folks in charge are searching for a bona fide powerhouse superstar, and that more times than not, the producers and the judges get stuck on the powerhouse part. A Tom Waits or a Patti Smith, hell even an Omarion, wouldn't in the words of the Game, get far on this talent competition. But once I got over my initial confusion I realized that the producers of American Idol know exactly what it is they are doing. Who better than someone like J.Lo to mentor these kids? She sings, she dances, she acts, she designs clothes, she went from the block to center stage, etc, etc.

And eventually I dug into my vaults and reminded myself as to why she got to this point in the first place. Hate it of love it, you gotta admit that for a while Jennifer Lopez was the shit to many people. Many of her singles provided the backdrop for many a summer ride through the blocks, and bumped from speaker to speaker at a party or on the radio after being requested for the umpteenth time.

And for a while it seemed that Jennifer Lopez was one of the few artists that took the art of a good remix seriously. For J.Lo and her people a remix was something more than a re-hash of a single with an added guest verse on the bridge from the producer of the track or rapper of the moment. Jennifer's remixes were events onto themselves, and once heard, gave more than enough evidence as to why hers was the first remix album in history to debut at number one on the charts. Check it out.



Waiting for Tonight [Hex Momentous Radio Mix]- Sex sells. We all know this. But nothing sells more than a good video, especially when said video holds all the necessary ingredients to keep a beat on repeat. Admit it, when you heard Jennifer Lopez was releasing an album, you laughed and moved on, but then late one night you caught this remix on MTV, or you were in a club and the DJ dropped it into his mix, and you couldn't help but dance. This feeling is re-enacted in this video as the connection between the jungle and primal urge to become a slave to the rhythm is made [a connection made clear in the constant shots of Jennifer winding and grinding in between the leaves, waterfalls, and strobe lights.] J and her girls prepare, arrive, navigate their way through, and eventually unleash the beast within on the dancefloor. Is it any wonder as to why this song is loved and adored by the young, the gays, the blacks, and the whites?



I'm Real [Murder Remix feat. Ja Rule]-Now this is what a summer jam should look and sound like. Light, chill, and smooth like the summer's breeze. An album later Jennifer would remind us all to not "be fooled by the rocks that she's got", but with this video you had no problem accepting her declaration of still being "from the block." The velour jumpsuit, [remember those? There once was a time where you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a p.y.t in a velour sweatsuit], the afternoon basketball games, outdoor house parties, playground shos, etc. It may seem like authenticity overload, but instead it feels loose and playful, no matter how many times the words "I'm Real" are repeated in the background. And big ups (?) for extending Ja Rule's 15 minutes. Thanks to Jennifer, Ja and his Murder Inc. imprint got a few more albums and members added to the entourage than label heads, fans, and executives ever expected.



Ain't it Funny [Murder Rmx. feat. Ja Rule and Cadillac Tah]-Guess who's back? Damn, Ashanti and Diddy must have been pissed. Yes, we got another remix starring J.Lo and Ja in scenes of urban leisure, but the spark is still there. Again J.Lo exhibits some fine music video acting by just making faces at her [unknown to us], ex-suitor. And let's not forget about the song's production now either. If you own the album, J.Lo, from which the original track was taken, you know that the original version of Ain't it Funny is all tango/flamenco light and kind of boring. To say this version is an improvement is definitely an understatement.



I'm Gonna be Alright [Track Masters Remix]-
J.Lo, J.Lo, J.Lo. You're too good to us. No more Ja. No more high rise apatments and outdoor basketball games. The atmosphere, like the beat, is humid, sticky, and

old school.

Baseball in the street, lawn chairs on the sidewalk, rollers in the laundromat, chilling on "porch" steps, barbershops, and neighborhood record stores; This is J.Lo's block, and she, like her and Nas' vocals on the beat, don't feel out of place...

Yes, contrary to popular belief, some of us still enjoy a good music video and/or remix. So big ups Ms. Lopez. And thank you for putting a little effort into all your remixes and music videos. That, is how you do it.